The National Ports Regulator has announced an overall decrease of 6.27% in port tariffs effective from April 1 2019/20.

National Ports Regulator CEO Mahesh Fakir presented the regulator's record of decision to Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) chairwoman Shulami Qalinge at a public meeting in Durban attended numerous port users from around the country, including representatives of shipping lines, exporters and freight operators this morning (Friday).

"After considering an application and written and oral submissions by all stakeholders, and based on latest available data, the Ports Regulator has concluded that an appropriate overall adjustment in average tariffs for the financial year 2019/20 is a decrease of 6.27%, " Fakir said.

Fakir said TNPA had applied for an average tariff increase of 4.21% for the period April 1 2019 to March 31 2020, together with indicative tariff increases of 18.57% and 6.34% for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 periods.

He said the regulator was committed to reducing the cost of living and the cost of doing business in the country through fair pricing in the ports system.

"This balanced tariff decision is considered the most prudent course of action for the 2019/20 period," Fakir said. He announced the following changes to the tariff book which will apply from April 1 2019/20.

#Marine cargo services and related tariffs (sections 1 to 8 of the tariff book excluding section 7 that deals with cargo container dues) are to remain unchanged at 2018/19 levels.

#All cargo container dues are to decrease by 10%

#All Roro cargo dues are to decrease by 10%

#Coal dry bulk export cargo dues are to increase by 10%

# The following tariffs are to be reduced as follows:

All breakbulk cargo dues are to be capped at R31.50 per tonne

All dry bulk cargo dues are to be capped at R20 per tonne

All liquid bulk cargo dues are to be capped at R40 per kilolitre

The tariffs below these upper limit caps in the categories above will remain at 2018/19 tariff levels, excluding coal dry bulk export cargo dues as set out above.

The regulator also extended the incentive for South African flagged commercial vessels for three years.